New Delhi, Dec 3(ANI): South Africa has retained its status as the number one ranked team on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table following its 309 runs victory over Australia in the third and final Test in Perth that has given it a 1-0 series win.

South Africa's series victory means that it is the clear leader at the top of the table, leading second-ranked England by six ratings points.

Australia is still in third position but has dropped to 114 after conceding three ratings points.

However, Australia will move ahead of England if India wins the remaining two Tests in Kolkata and Nagpur.

If India does win the next two Tests, it will win the series 3-1 and also jump ahead of England, by 0.01 point.

If India wins the series 3-1, then it will have 111.59 ratings points while England will have 111.58.

In sharp contrast, if England wins the remaining two Tests, then it will rise to 119 ratings points and India will drop to 103 ratings points. In case of a drawn series, England will drop two points while India will gain two points.

A total of US $3.8m in prize money will be shared among the top four sides on 1 April 2013, 2014 and 2015, after the ICC Board approved a proposal earlier this year to substantially increase incentives in the form of prize money to promote Test cricket in the period leading up to the ICC Test Championship event in 2017.

Previously, the top team in the Reliance ICC Test rankings received a cheque for $175,000, but, from 2013, it will receive a minimum of $450,000, rising to $500,000 in 2015. From 2016 there will be further increases in Test prize money.

The Reliance ICC Test player rankings will be updated on Tuesday, 4 December.(ANI)

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